13 arrested at Sacramento UC Regents meeting

SACRAMENTO, CA – Thirteen people were arrested at a UC Regents meeting in downtown Sacramento Wednesday.

The arrestees were sitting in on a meeting on budget and academic performance of the UC system at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Demonstrators sat locked arm and arm on the floor, protesting the way UC hospital managers continue to handle contract talks with the the more than 13,000 state wide union workers.

“We are in a fight. We help raise the resources but now there is no support,” one protestor said.

Union leaders with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said they’ve reached the boiling point in contract talks with the board. They said they want better benefits, but their main concern continues to be the lack of staffing.

“They are not putting [the staffing] with patients,” AFSCME 3299 president Kathryn Lybarger said.

University of California spokesperson Steve Montiel said they’ve negotiated in good faith with union workers, but said the union must agree to certain changes.

“The main issue as far as we are concerned is pension reform. The members of AFSCME don’t want to contribute what other employees are contributing,” Montiel said.

Union workers said their taking their protest to the next level, organizing a planned state wide strike at UC hospitals on May 21 and 22.

“There are things that are really important to make sure our patients get the best care that the administration won’t agree to,” Lybarger said.

[Source]: News10/KXTV